Mitch Hedberg is a hit with the college crowd, but he doesn't know why. “I'm finding that out myself that college students do seem to like me,’’ he says. “They do like the pot and they do often ask if I want to go smoke pot with them. I used to talk about pot a lot in my act, but I haven't talked about it much lately and I don't really smoke it anymore. I don't really go out with these kids and get high with them so I'm not known as a big pothead comic, but I think people can see me as being a pothead still. I can't shake it.’’

In addition to college students, Hedberg — a comedian who laces his act with amusing observations — has a fanbase of celebrities that range from Heath Ledger to Heart to George Carlin to rocker Ryan Adams. The latter even gave him props in the March issue of “Spin” when he listed that he was listening to a bootleg Hedberg CD on his tour bus.

“That was pretty cool,’’ Hedberg says. “He also wrote about me on his Web site — I heard about this through my manager. He wrote that I was his favorite comic for a stretch, which was cool. I wrote on my Web site that I want to tour with him.’’

Hedberg says he is still waiting for Adams to take him up on his post. However, he did tour with comedians Lewis Black and Dave Attell in the fall for what he describes as a “massive Comedy Central tour.’’

“It was great,’’ he says. “We're talking road manager. I had the rider for what I want backstage. Usually you don't get anything backstage but I was able to pick what I wanted backstage. Nice hotel. The only thing we didn't get was a tour bus.’’

When asked what exactly he requested on his rider, Hedberg says “since it was my first rider, it was quite pedestrian as far as my choices. I chose Vodka, scented candles and a couple of other pretty common things. I think next time I'm going to go for some health food things. Maybe some vitamins and some power mixes. A masseuse backstage would be great or maybe even a chiropractor. I don't know if they'll do that for me, but that would be awesome.’’

Though he enjoys performing in smaller clubs, Hedberg says he prefers the theatres.

“I'm not so much an act that talks to the crowd where in an intimate setting that's great,’’ he says. “I kind of go into my own world on stage which is selfish and I understand that but that's how I work ... The theatres work well for me, but I was brought up in the clubs so I always love them, too. But hopefully I can tour theatres the rest of my life.’’

Hedberg will return to Tempe — where he lived for three years — this weekend for a performance at the Tempe Improv.

“Rent was cheap (in Tempe),’’ he says of his East Valley living experience. “The girls were pretty. There was plenty of cheap booze everywhere. We got the whole college vibe without having to go to college so it was amazing.’’

Hedberg says he worked at the Paradise Bar & Grill, an old Mill Avenue haunt, and used to walk through ASU to get to work.

“I had such a good time walking through campus,’’ he says. “Even though I didn't go to school, walking through campus made me very happy. It was a positive thing.’’